On the occasion of the 60th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu's youngest son Sheikh Russel, the Road Transport and Highways Division had a special arrangement for underprivileged children to bring joy among the children.
Marking the day, a pleasure trip was organized for 60 underprivileged children and orphan children of Tejgaon’s State Children Home (Sarkari Shishu Paribar) on Wednesday morning.
They enjoyed the metro rail ride and visited the historic places of Dhaka riding on a BRTC open-top bus.
The eyes of children were brimming with joy while they were sharing their excitement after enjoying their metro rail ride and open-top bus.
While sharing joy, seventh grader student Mishti Akhtar said: “I am very happy to ride the metro for the first time. I had a dream to ride the metro rail. Today my dream came into reality. This day is a very memorable day for me.”
Smriti Akhtar said: “I would like to thank the government for giving us such an opportunity to travel by metro rail on Sheikh Russel's 60th birthday. Today's joy cannot be expressed in words.”
Another girl Zeba Islam said: “Today we are very happy travelling from one place to another by metro rail. Earlier, I also rode metro rail on Bangabandhu's birthday for the first time. I still liked it and I'm happier.”
First in the morning, children came to Agargaon metro rail station riding on an open-top bus from Tejgaon. After riding the metro rail from Agargaon to Uttara Dia Bari, they went to the exhibition and information centre of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited and cut a cake there.
Jharna Jahin, deputy superintendent of the children home, who came with the children, said that usually underprivileged children do not get any scope and environment to enjoy. Therefore, on the occasion of Sheikh Russel Day, arrangements were made for a metro rail ride and travelling on open-top to enjoy sightseeing of the city.
This will help to increase their physical and mental development, she said.
“Today's event was a different experience for the underprivileged children. We wish to organize more such events for these children in the future. By this arrangement, the children can see the current government's development activities on the ground and as a result they can learn a lot,” said Jharna Jahin.
Rabeya Akhter, a teacher of the state children home, said: "We and all the children are very happy to be a part of such a program today on this special day. Children were all dressed up in the same way, playing drums and riding the metro rail, it was a joy like Eid for them... I hope more such activities will be arranged for children in the future.
After the cake-cutting session with the children, MAN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, said that these underprivileged children have never got any idea about the development of the country with their own eyes. Children should be aware of all kinds of development so we have organized a special activity on this special day and we want to share their joy with us and all of you.”
At the end of the fun trip, a prayer session and painting competition was organized at BRTC's central repair factory in Tejgaon in the afternoon.
Hundreds of children and teenagers participated in it.
Senior officials of the ministry and metro rail project attended the event.
Russel, also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on October 18 in 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi road number 32 in the capital.
He was brutally killed along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975.
From October 18, 1964 to August 15, 1975, 10 years of growing up from the birth of Sheikh Russel is a historical chapter of Bangabandhu to take the independence movement of Bangladesh to the final stage.
